The festive and for some, silly season for 2021 is upon us.

Businesses, organisations, groups, bubbles, and individuals are counting down to enjoy the festive season as it approaches. It is time to reflect on 2021 and the state of our nation as we start to usher in 2022, writes Te Tuhi Kelly, leader of the Progressive Party of the Cook Islands.

In the last few years, I have blogged, posted, and written a number, of at times to some people anyway, inflammatory articles (over 400) which has got up people’s noses. Which to some extent they have taken my opinions personally and now see me in a different light and in most cases negatively. I can’t walk down the street without someone accosting me (I say this in a nice way) to talk about my latest article and in the main, they have been positive. Those with negative responses don’t bother me because everyone is entitled under our Constitution to have an opinion and in some cases, they are just wanting to have a vent.

When someone has a difference of opinion, that’s cool, and it is good when they articulate this so that I can appreciate where they are coming from. But I am noticing more and more where they have a disagreement with me, they take it as though I am attacking them personally, when in fact the opposite is true. I will have an opinion on most things that go on here in the Cook Islands and when I believe that what they are doing is illicit, immoral, illegal, or just down right unsportsman-like behaviour, then I reserve the right to comment, and I do not apologise for this.

Believe you me, I have been here long enough and been exposed to all manner of unscrupulous behaviour and seen the damage this has done to our people not only at work but also within families and within political parties, Pa Enua, businesses, personal relationships and the government sector. I have represented many people for free in the community when they have been subjected to foul play in the workplace and I shall continue to do this going forward.

The pandemic has brought out the best and the worst in our communities and this is not helped by misinformation, bias, coercion and if you have an opposite view of vaccination then you are ripe for being castigated on social media and other media. With the latest booster shots being advocated, many people are rushing to get the booster shot. However anecdotal evidence suggests that some people are reacting badly to the booster through localised pain, fevers, chills, and flu-like symptoms. Generally, people are recovering within 24 – 48 hours.

What is noticeable this year was the number of public servants who are awaiting court proceedings for allegations of fraudulent financial spendings, and I can’t help but think that this is just the tip of the iceberg. More importantly we have (suspended) DPM Robert Tapaitau who has been charged (with fraud related offences) awaiting court proceedings in 2022.

Our border will be opening on January 13, 2022, and we will be getting a flood of returning Cook Islanders and tourists ex-New Zealand and it remains to be seen when the virus arrives and not if. We remain ever hopeful that we will stay safe, healthy and with a sense of a new beginning just over the horizon. The new Immigration Act will be upper most in those who are seeking PR status, and this is going to be a logistical exercise which will take some time to work through.

Here in the Cook Islands, we have parents or partners who have disabilities, mental health or pre-existing health conditions that are worsening or terminal and whom are being looked after by family caregivers.

It pains me to watch how stressed and aged they themselves have become looking after their loved ones. Most times with little or no help and assistance from Government. What use is providing Government employees with their own Government vehicle when those millions could be financing specialist care facilities and support mechanisms for our people. More importantly little or no support apart from excuses, from other family members who live nearby or have bolted off to New Zealand, out of sight out of mind.

I see a once thriving healthy mum or dad or sibling who lives in a child-like daze 24, 7, 365. Hence it is long overdue that we set up support mechanisms driven with the support from Government and the community, no more no less. I grew up in a household where at any one time a mentally or unhealthy uncle, aunt or cousin would be deposited on our doorstep. My mum would not turn anyone away, she became the Samaritan of our whanau and she passed that on to me. We took them in nursed them till they recovered sufficiently, or they spent their last days with us.

I never forgot the smell of urine, vomit, kaka, cheesy skin smells, and helping my mum, wash, clean up after and feed them. This was my siblings I am talking about when they were babies. Now the adults are babies, and the cycle continues for all caregivers. This is important for me as the leader of a new Party, as one of our remits and policies is to set up a new ministry that will manage aged care, disabilities, and mental health, funded from restructuring the Public Service for more efficient and targeted services.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all who have supported my articles and blogs throughout 2021 and I want you to enjoy the time you have with your families during the festive season. So be safe, be healthy and most of all I want to see each and every one of you back again in 2022 as this is going to be a watershed moment for us as a nation, as a people and as a country. Meitaki ngao.